From PE School to global sports leader

If not for his Otago contacts and relationships, Heath Mills (BPhEd, 1994) says it’s very unlikely that he would be where he is today.

The CEO of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA) and Chairman of the World Cricketers’ Association made a “very late call” to head to Otago to study, but he hasn’t regretted it one bit.

Originally planning to become a builder, he was encouraged by his mother Carole to further his studies at university.

Having never set foot in Dunedin, the Aucklander chose to study Physical Education at Otago.

Too late for a residential college, in his first year, he boarded at the home of then Senior Lecturer and Sub-Dean at the School of Physical Education Rex Thomson MNZM.

Heath boarded with two other students – Rory Mckay and current NZ Rugby Head of High-Performance Mike Anthony (BPhEd, 1994).

Heath also had several friends at Selwyn College, so he says he got to know student life there well.

“I was a wee bit uncertain, but after 24 hours, I was hooked with the place (Otago).”

During his five years at Otago, Heath was heavily involved in rugby and played for the Otago University Blues Colts team and a couple of years for the University B team, but had a break from his main sport of cricket.

“I actually stopped playing cricket for four years. I just focused on rugby and university life.”

He says during his studies he “bounced around the campus” including flatting in Castle Street South, Leith Street, South Leith Street and Hyde Street.

“It was a great time in my life. In some ways, I look back and still think it's the best four or five years of my life and yeah, I'd go back there tomorrow in a heartbeat if I could.”

He maintains close ties with many of his friends from University and says he comes across Otago graduates in all walks of life – particularly as a Physical Education degree is a broad degree.

“I think Otago University is easily the best university in the country and the best place to study. And I tell everyone that all the time, I have nothing but fond memories and I wouldn’t be where I am today without Otago qualifications. But probably more importantly meeting the people I did, many of whom have helped me along the way.”

Along with Rex Thomson, who he says was a great lecturer and mentor, he is forever grateful to current Professor Steven Jackson, who he says was “always outstanding and entertaining”, and also Professor Ken Hodge.

“Ken was tough, he was very direct and also a very good rugby player.”

He also says Gouke (Bob) Leek, Warren Dukes and Stan Mair were good people from the Physical Education Programme who bring back strong memories from his time there.

After graduating from Otago in 1994, he completed secondary school teacher training at the Dunedin College of Education and then taught for three years at Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS), where he was also a master at the school hostel.

He then did an 18-month “OE” in Europe, where he worked as a supply teacher in the UK.

On his return to New Zealand, he set up the Sports Academy at MAGS, where he helped establish academies for rugby, cricket, swimming and football.

“The aim was to bring the best coaches into the school environment, which made it easier for the kids and also took advantage of the great facilities at the school.”

Heath says fellow Otago alumnus Dion Nash (BA, 1994) did some relief teaching at MAGS in 2001 and said a cricket players’ association was needed in New Zealand, and his response was “what is a players’ association?”.

Heath says Dion had seen a cricket players’ association being set up in Australia, while he was playing there the previous year.

“So I dialled 018, as you did at the time, and asked for the phone number of Cricket Australia. I called that number and eventually found my way to Tim May, who was CEO of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, and I had the most empowering conversation of my life, finding out how the Association worked over there.”

Heath says about a week after that, he got a constitution drawn up and flew around the country signing up all the available players and shortly after, fellow Otago alumnus Martin Snedden (LLB, 1982) was named CEO of New Zealand Cricket.

Heath arranged a meeting with Martin to introduce the new players’ association to him.

“It’s fair to say it took Martin by surprise in his first week in the job.

“I really had no idea what I was doing at first, but I guess I was in the right place at the right time and able to organise players to get together and form an association.”

At the same time, fellow Otago alumnus Rob Nichol (BCom, DipGrad) was fronting a new Rugby Players’ Association (they were both in the same year and had played rugby together at Otago).

“I saw him on TV fronting an issue and made contact to reconnect and from that moment on we basically ran the two separate associations side-by-side out of the same Auckland office.”

Heath was Education Manager and head of Special Projects at the Auckland Rugby Union/Blues from 2002 to 2007, while the NZCPA developed.

“It took us a year and a half to negotiate the first collective agreement with New Zealand Cricket, and it ended up with a significant public dispute known as the ‘players strike’, which was front page news for six or seven weeks in late 2002.”

Heath says from the player payment pool, there was enough money to employ someone half-time and he accepted the role.

Since then, player associations for hockey, netball and football have joined Heath and Rob in the same Auckland office.

Heath says many Otago alumni have worked there over the years, including Stephanie Bond (BA, LLB), Henry Moore (BPhEd, LLB), Josh Blackie (BCom, BPhEd), Debbie Christian (BPhEd, DipGrad), David Gibson (BPhEd), Brad Rodden (BPhEd), and Adine Wilson MNZM (BPhEd, LLB).

He has been a Director of US-based athlete intellectual property rights business Winners Alliance since February 2024.

The Otago family tradition has continued, with his elder son Ashley recently graduating with degrees in Law and Economics and now working for transmission lines company Vector in Auckland. His younger son Jordan recently completed his first year studying Commerce.

While both his sons were studying in Dunedin, Heath reconnected with many friends and colleagues in the city, and his role takes him back there several times a year to meet with players and discuss their needs.

Heath says professional sport continues to evolve in New Zealand, and he’s thankful that his education and Otago contacts have helped him be at the forefront of this exciting industry.

- Kōrero by Kerry Dohig, Communications Adviser Development and Alumni Relations Office.